Cylinder printing-press.



1. H. STONEMETZ.

CYLINDER PRINTING PRES S.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. H. 1915- Paterifed J 11110 27, 1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. H. STONEMETZ.

CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1915.

Patented June 27, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v J. wsmncwmz.

CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICAHON FILED OCT. H. 1915' Patented June 27, 1916.

8 SHEETs-SHEET 3" amwnto c J. H. STONEMETZ. I CYLI NDER PRINTlNG PRESS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. m5.

Patented June 27 B SHEETS-SHEET 4- anon/141 M avi lwwooao I. H. STONEMETZ.

CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT. II. I915.

Patented June 27, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5 *m H. m R Riv-- w? O 0 Av J. H. STONEMEIZ.

CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 19w.

1,1 88,507. Patented June 27,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

J. H. STONEMETZ.

CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. I915.

1,188,507. PatentedJune2, 6.

1. H. stoutmmz.

CYLINDER PRINTING-PRESS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. I9I5.

Patented June 27, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8- I I Svwnioz JJ/m fljtmemet 7 JOHN H. STONEMETZ, or" BROOKL N, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To rasrrnnss COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A conronArIoN on NEW YORK.

CYLINDER rnxNriNe-ranss.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed October 11, 1915. Serial No. 55,234.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. S'roNEMETz,

a Citizen of the United States, residin at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and tate vof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cylinder Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cylinder printing presses, the object of the invention being to produce a press which though relatively small, will perform the work equally as well aslarge cylinder presses, and which will be so simple in its construction that it canbe operated by a class of pressmen that usually operate the small or platen printin presses.

A further 0 ject is to provide improved means for preventing thecontact of the cyl-' inder with the type when no sheet of paper is on the cylinder to be printed upon.

A further object is to provide improved means for preventing the ductor or ink supplying roll contacting with thesupply roll when the cylinder fails to receive a sheet.

A further object is to provide improved means for insuring the proper position of the paper relative to the cylinder so as to compel an exactregistry, which is particularly important in the printing with two or more colors.

A further object isftQ provide a press of the character stated embodying in its-cona struction many improved features which (:0- operate in the performance of the press to produce its efiicient results.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating my improved printing press. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating my. improved printing press. the opposite side of the ress shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa. view in ongitudinal section taken on the line {1-41 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on the'l-ine"5,,5 of.

Fig. 4 with the cylinder and portions. cooperating therewith in elevation. Fig. is a fragmentary view in section on the; me

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of 6-6 of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a detail view" in longitudinal section on an enlarged scale illustrating one end of the shaft 27 with the several parts'thereon. Fig. 8 is a view in section on an enlarged scale on the line -88 of Fig. 5 with't-he parts shown in position to grip the sheet. Fig. 9 is a similar view in section on the line 9 -'9 of Fig. 5, showing the parts in the same position referred to above in reference to Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and 11 are views corresponding to Figs. 8 and 9, .but illustrating the positions of the parts to release and permit the discharge of the printed sheet. Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of one of the feed guides 72; Fig. 13 is a view in section on the line 1313 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a view in elevation partly in section illustrating the side feed guide. Fig. 15 is an enlarged. view showing one of the paper guiding rolls and its supporting arm, and Fig. 16 is a view in on which a-bed 4. is adapted to reciprocate.

The bed 4 is ofany approved type having at one end an ink-distributing plate 5, and at. its other end supporting the type 6, and while I shall hereinafter refer to the printing material as type, it is to be understood that I use this term in its broadest sense to cover any material capable of printing or reproducing when ink'is applied.

A- transverse drive shaft 7 is supported in frame 1 and is provided witha pinion 8 meshing with a gear wheel 9 on a countershaft 10.. The gear 9 is provided with a crank pin 11. connected by a link 12 with a rocker lever13, and the free end of the rocker lever is connected by a link 14 with a depending bracket 15 on the bed 4, so that the turning movement of the gear 9 compels a reciprocating movement of the bed to perform its printing operation.

.The type '6is supplied with ink from a font roll 16 withwhich a ductor or'ink supplying roll 17contacts at each normal operation, and this ductor rides upon the dis- --tri=butingplate 5, and thevd-istribution of inkis carried out 'by' the ordinary arrangement of inking rolls 18 which are clearly shown, but. Whichform no part of the present invention, and hence need not be described in detail, except with relation to the operation of the ductor 17 which contacts with the supply roll 16, only when the sheets to be printed upon are fed to the machine as will be hereinafter described.

The ductor 17 is supported by two levers 19 having pivotal connection between their ends to a shaft 20 in frame 1, and the lower end of one lever 19 is provided with a rod 21 which has a forked end 22 straddling the shaft 10.

0n the shaft 10, a cam 23 is located and engages a roller 24 on rod 21 and operates to move the rod in a direction to elevate the ductor 17 while a coiled spring 25 connecting rod 21 with frame 1 operates to draw the 'ductor down upon the supply roll 16, and also exerting the necessary pressure of the ductor on the distributing plate 5.

26 represents my improved cylinder which is positioned transversely of the frame at the upper portion thereof, and is mounted to turn on a transverse shaft 27. The shaft 27 is secured in eccentrics 28 and 29 at the a a slot 33 therein to receive a lug 34 on cylinder 26 and compel the cylinder and gear to turn together, yet permit the cylinder a movement independent of the gear for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The gear 32 meshes with a rack 35 which is car'- ried by the bed 4, so that the reciprocation .32 and cylinder 26.

of the bed operates to impart a rotary or rather an oscillating movement to the gear The cylinder 26 has a tympan 37 secured thereon by a clamp 38 which is constituted by a plurality of clamping fingers on the shaft 39, and a crank arm- 40 on this shaft 39 is engaged by a spring 41 to hold the clamp in operative position. A rod 42 connected to the crank arm 40 extends through the spring 41 and is guided in bracket 43' on the cylinder. lhe other end of the tympan 37 is wound on a reel 44 having a ratchet wheel 45 thereon engaged by a pawl 46 which permits the tympan to be adjusted as desired. The cylinder 26 supports adjacent shaft 39, a gripper shaft 47 which is provided with a series of sheet grippers 48. Certain of these grippers have register blocks 49 thereon which are adapted to engage-the sheet of paper and compel the same to properly register as will hereinafter appear.

The gripper shaft 47 is provided with a crank arm 50 against which a coiled spring 51 bears to move the grippers in the direction to engage the paper, and a rod 52 connected to arm 50 is located inside of the spring 51 and operates as a guide therefor, said rod being movable through a guide bracket 53 on the cylinder. A crank arm 54 is also secured to the gripper shaft 47 and carries a roller 55 at its free end to engage a cam 56. This cam has a certain amount of movement on the shaft 27, and is provided with a lug 57 movable in a recess 58 in a ring 59, the ring mounted to turn on the shaft 27 and having a radially projectl ing-finger 60 which engages a stop 61 on the frame 1 to limit the turning movement of the ring in both directions.

The frame 1 supports a delivery table 62 having adjustable boards 63' thereon be- 1 tween which the printed sheets are fed by upper and lower delivery rolls 64 and 65 respectively, and stripper fingers 66 are located adjacent the cylinder and receive the end of the printed sheet after it is released,

stripping the same from the cylinder and guiding the paper into the bite of the feeding rolls.

The upper feeding roll 65 is supported on a transverse rod 67, said rod having links I 68 at its ends mounted to turn on the rod, and coiled springs 69 are interposed between said links and fingers 70 fixed to the rod, so that sufi'icient downward pressure is maintained upon the upper feed roll to insure the proper gripping action on the paper.

An oscillating shaft 71 is supported in the frame above cylinder 26, and carries feed guides 72 against which the sheets of paper are moved in feeding to the cylinder from a feed table 73 on which a side guide 74 is located. This side guide is adjustable on the table by means of a bolt 7-5 in any of a series of openings 76, these guides being shown in detail in Figs. 12, 13, and 14.

The paper feed rolls 64, have motion imparted thereto by means of a belt 77 which engages a pulley 7 8 on one of the feed roll shafts, and said feed rolls are connected by intermeshing gears 79 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The gear wheel 32 meshes with a gear train 80 which moves ink distributing rolls 81, and causes an even distribution of the ink over the surface of the type. is driven by a pulley 82 on the drive shaft 7, and the latter has a balance wheel 83 on one end and a pulley 84 on its other end. This pulley 84 is connected by a belt 85 with The belt 77 t the drive pulley 86 of a motor 87, and the countershaft 10. The cam 89 controls 0 1 movement or a lever 96 which operates tically positioned rod 92 having a coiled spring 91 thereon exerting a downward pressure on the rod and holding a roller 93 on lever 90 against the face of cam 89. The upper end of rod 92 is adapted to engage a finger 94 on oscillating shaft 71, while a spring 95 exerts a pull on a finger 96 on said shaft 71, holding the shaft in normal posit tion and returning it'to said position. A laterally projecting stud 97 on rod 92 engages a finger 98 on a transverse shaft 99 causing the oscillation of. said shaft for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The rod 92 is provided with a lug 100 which engages a spring-held finger 101 on a shaft 102 which carries the stripper fingers 66 and gives a slight tilting movement to the fingers to position them for stripping, and at other times to permitthem to be held slightly away from the'cylinder.

The cam 88 engages a rocker lever 103 which at its free end is connected by a rod 104 with one arm of an enlargement or twoarm lever 105 constituting an integral or fixed part of the eccentric 28, and it is to be understood that the cam causes the movement of theeccentric in such a direction as to maintain the cylinder in an elevated position, the downward movement of the cylinder for printing being permitted when the cam 88 reaches a pre-determined point in its revolution.

To insure a positive downward movement of the cylinder with the proper pressure for printing, I provide a rod 106 connected to the enlargement 105 and guided in a bracket 107 on frame 1. A coiled spring 108 is located around the rod 106 and exerts an upward pressure on a fixed collar 109, so that when cam 88 permits, the spring causes a turning movement of the shaft 27 and eccentrics 28 and 29 to elastically move the cylinder downwardly a distance suflicient to properly engage the type on the bed,'but at other times the cam 88 operates to hold the cylinder in an elevated position. This downward spring movement of the cylinder is permitted only when asheet of paper is in position to be fed to the grippers 48 of the cylinder as will now be explained.

The shaft 99 is provided with a plurality of fingers 110 which move downwardly through openings or slots 111 in the feed table 73, and this downward movement of the fingers is prevented by a sheet of paper 112 as the sheet passes over the slot 111 and prevents the fingers from moving downwardly beyond the point of contact with the sheet of paper.

on one end of the shaft 99, a dog 113 is located, and a relatively light spring 114 exerts a downward pressure on the dog and shaft to move the end of the dog into the path of a shoulder 115 on a segment llti which is fixed to oscillate with the eccentriC The sheet of paper operates to hold the dog elevated so that the segment can oscillate freely, but when no sheet of paper is in position over slots 111 and under fingers 110, dog 113 will move downwardly a distance suflicient to engage the shoulder 115 on the segment 116, and hence prevent any oscillation of the eccentric 29 in one direction which will prevent any downward movement of the cylinder, so that the cylinder will notengage the type, but will allow the bed to reciprocate freely below thesame and not ink the tympan. As the cylinder is moved downward by reason of the spring 108, the stopping of the oscillation of the eccentric merely results in a contraction of the spring without any corresponding expansion, whereas at every normal operation the spring expands to move the cylinder the eccentric 29 is stopped by the dog 113,

the eccentric 117 will prevent the contact of the conductorlwith the supply roll 17. The cam 88 also operates as a crank disk having a crank pin 120 connected by a rod 121 with a ratchet arm 122, the latter by a pawl operatively engaging a ratchet wheel 123 on the ink f eed roll 16. An adjusting lever 124 regulates the turning movement of roll 16 by the ratchet arm 122, as the lever 124 can be positioned at various adjustments, and the movement imparted by. the ratchet arm can be varied. This is a common construction in inking mechanisms in general use, and the details form no part of the present invention.

The operation of my improved printing press is as follows: The printing cylinder 26 is driven by the rack 35, which moves with the bed 4 and engages the gear 32 imparting i an oscillating movement to the cylinder which is more than a full revolution sothat after the printing, the forwardend of the sheet 112'is carried beyond the feeding point and into the bite of the revolving rollers 64 and 65 which deliver it into the receiving box on the table 62. When a sheet is placed in position to be taken by the grippers 48, it covers the holes 111 under the fingers 110 and prevents the dropping of the -fingers into the holes, consequently the dog 113 is maintained in an elevated position out of the path of movement of the segment 116,

so that the cylinder can be lowered bythe turning movement of the eccentrics 28 and 29 by reasonof the spring pressure upon the rod 106 when permitted by cam 89. If no sheet is fed under the fingers 110, they drop into'the holes 111, and allow the dog 113 to move downwardly into the path of the shoulder 115, and prevent the movement of the eccentrics to lower thecylinder and also ,preventthe taking of the ink by the ductor many times the sheet is run through the machine.

The mechanism for controlling the opening movement of the grippers is shown clearly in Figs. 8 and 10. As the cylinder oscillates a distance greater than one complete revolution, it is necessary for the cam 56 to move on the shaft 27, but be held stationary at certain times to operate the grip ping fingers.

1 In Fig. 8, the parts are shown in normal position with the grippers in engagement with the sheet, and as the cylinder revolves to the left, the first movement will be to cause the lug 57 on the cam 56 to move to the opposite end of the recess 58, and then compel the ring 59 to turn a complete revolution until the finger 60 engages the stop 61 .tion shown in Fig. 11, re

as shown in Fig. 10.

As the cam cannot move any farther, the roller 55 will ride onto enlargement of the cam, causing the turning movement of the shaft 47 to elevate the grippers to the posieasing the paper and allowing it to feed forwardly by the turning movement of the cylinder into the bite of the rolls 6% and 65, and thence onto the table 62. The motion of the cylinder is later reversed, so that the roller 55 rides ofi the enlargement of cam 56 and sprin 51 snaps the grippers down on the edge 0 the paper, and during such return movement,

the parts are returned to the position shown It is to be understood that the gear wheel 32 always maintains the same pitchline or mesh with the rack 35, as the gear wheel does not move vertically but remains in the same horizontal plane. This is due to the fact that the gear wheel turns on the eccentric 28, while the cylinder turns on the shaft and the shaft is caused to move vertically by the turning movement of the eccentrics.

A roller 125 is carried by arms 126 on a shaft 127, and bears a'gainst the tympan holding the sheet tightly for printing. This shaft is turned by a cam 128 on an enlargement of eccentric 28, which cam engages a roller 129 on a lever 130, the latter secured on the shaft 127 and normally held by a spring 131 to maintain the" roller 125 in engagement with'the sheet. I

Various slight changes mightbe made in. the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a movable type bed, of a frame having bearings therein, eccentrics mounted to turn in the bearings, a shaft secured to the eccentrics, a cylinder loose on the shaft, means for turning the cylinder, elastic means tending to turn the eccentrics in a direction to lower .the cylinder, and positive means for moving and normally holding the cylinder elevated, said latter means including a portion operating to periodically permit and control the movement of said cylinder .by the elastic means to cause a gradual downward movement of said 0 linder, substantially as described.

2. he combination with a movable type bed, of'a framehaving bearings therein, ec-. centrics mounted to turn in the bearings, a shaft secured to the eccentrics, a cylinder loose on the shaft, means for turning the cylinder, elastic means tending to turn the eccentrics in a direction to lower the cylinder, positive means normally holding the cylinder elevated and including an operating cam, said cam also acting as a controlling means permitting the cylinder to be lowered gradually by its elastic means, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a reciprocating type bed, of a frame supporting said bed and having bearings therein, sleeves forming eccentrics mounted to turn in the bearings, a shaft secured in the eccentrics, a cylinder loose on the shaft, one of said eccentrics including a two-arm lever, means secured to each arm of said-lever for imparting movement to said latter mentioned eccentric in opposite directions, a toothed rack on the type bed, and a gear Wheel on one of said eccentrics meshing with the rack and having connections to said cylinder for imparting rotary movement thereto, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a reciprocating type bed, of a frame supporting saidbed and having bearings therein, sleeves forming eccentrics mounted to turn in the bearings, a shaft secured in the eccentrics, a cylinder loose on the shaft, one of said eccentr1cs lncluding a two-arm leverfmeansse cured to each arm of said lever to impart movement tosa1d latter mentioned eccentric pin connection with oneend of the cylinder, substantially as described.

centrics mounted to turn in the bearings, a shaft secured to. the eccentrics, a cylinder loose on the shaft andcoiiperativewithsaid type bed to print sheets of paper, means for turning the cylinder, elastic means tending to turn the eccentrics in a direction to lower the cylinder, positive means for moving and normally holding the cylinder elevated, and automatic means operative" to prevent the cylinder from, being lowered by said elastic means, when no paper is inserted, substantially as described.

6. The combin'ation with adreciprocating, type bed, of a shaft-located above the type bed, a cylinder turning on the shaft, sleeves forming eccentrics positioned on and having fixed relation to the shaft, bearings suporting theeccentrics, one of said eccentrics including a two arm lever, means secured to each arm of said lever to impart movement to said" latter mentioned eccentric in opposite directions, a rack on-the type bed, a gear wheel-mounted to turn on one ofthe eccentrics and meshing with the rack, said gear and cylinder having movable connection compelling them to turn together but permitting the cylinder an independent vertical movement, substantially as described,

7. The combination with a frame and a reciprocating type bed in the frame, of a transverse shaft above the bed,-sleeves form-" ing eccentrics positioned on' and having fixed relation to the shaft, said sleeves having bearings in the frame, a cylinder mounted to turn on the shaft, means including a rotatable actuating cam for positively moving the eccentrics in one direction to elevate the cylinder, and elastic means for moving the eccentrics in the opposite direction to lower the cylinder into operative en: gagement with the bed," substantially as described.

8. The combination with a frame and a reciprocating type bed therein, of a transverse shaft above the bed, sleeves forming eccentrics positioned on and havin fixed relation to the shaft, said sleeves ving hearings in thenframe, an impression cylinder mounted to turn on the shaft, means for turning the eccentrics to raise and lower the cylinder, a reckon thebed, one of said eccentric sleeves' having a journal portlon, a gear wheel mounted to turn on said ourbed, of a shaft nal portion and meshing with the rack, and; 'means formmg a' loose connection between the' gearandcyIinder whereby a -ve 'rtica l movement of'the cylinder is per- -m1tted independently of saidge'ar, substan- ;.tially1as described, I

9. The combination with a reciprocating bed, of. a shaftf'located above the bed, ,a cylinder turning onthe shaft, arack on the c bed, avgearlmeshing with the rack and hav- 5. The combination with a movable type bed, of a frame having bearings therein, ec'-' ing slot and. pin connection with the cylinder, means for, raisingjand lowering, the

trolled by the position of thefsheet grippers preventing the loweringof the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed to the grippers, substantially as' described.

10. The combination with'a; reciprocating located above the bed, a cylinder turning on the shaft, a rack .on

'the bed, a gear meshing within the rack and having slot 7 and pin connection with the cylinder, elastic means for moving the shaft downwardly to position the cylinderin operative relationship to the bed, sheet grippers car'ried by the *cylinder, and means con trolled by the position of thesheet grippers preventing the lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed to the grippers, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a reciprocating bed, of a shaft located.\above the bed, a cylinder turning on the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear meshing with the rack and having slot and pin connection with the cylinder, positive-means engagin the shaft and normallyholding the'cylin' erin elevated position, elastic. means adapted to 7 move the cylinder downwardlydhringa portion of the reciprocation of thebed, sheet grippers carried by the cylinder, and means controlled by the position of the sheet grippers preventing-the lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed to the grippers, substantially as described.

. l2.- The combinationwith a reciprocating bed, ofa shaft 'located above the bed, a cylinder -turning ion the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear-Ine sh-in'g with" the rack andv having slot and pin connection with the cylinder, eccentrics secured I to the shaft,

means for! tnrnin'gthe eccentrics to raise and lower the cylinder, sheet grippers carried by the. cylinder, and means controlled by the position of the sheet grippers preventing the vlowering of, the cylin when-no sheet is fedto' the grippers, sub-. stantiallyas described.

'13. The combination with a reciprocating bed, of a cylindrical shaft'located above the bed, a {cylinder turning on said shaft, ece centrics secured to and. adjustable on the shaft, bearings" sup o ting. the eccentrics, means for turning t eleccentricstoraise and er to pr nting position j lower the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear wheel mounted to turn on one of the eccentrics and meshing with the rack, said gear and cylinder having movable connection compelling them to turn together, but permitting the cylinder an independent vertical movement, sheet grippers carried by,

the cylinder, and means preventing thelowering of the cylinder to printing position with the rack and having slot and pin connection with the cylinder, means for positively moving the eccentrics in one d1rection to elevate the cylinder, elastic means for moving the eccentrics in the opposite direction to lower the cylinder into operatlve engagement with the bed, sheet grippers carried by the cylinder, and means for automatically preventing the lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed to the grippers, substantially as described.

15. 'llhe 'combination with a frame, and a reciprocating bed in the frame, of atransverse cylindrical shaft above the bed, eccentrics secured to and adjustable onthe shaft and having hearings in the frame, a cylinder mounted to turn on said shaft, means for turning the eccentrics to raise and lower the cylinder,'a rack on the bed, a gear wheel mounted to turn on one of the eccentrics and meshing with the rack, said gear and cylinder having slot and key engagement permitting the vertical movement of the cylinder independent of the gear wheel, sheet grippers carried by the cylinder, and means preventing the lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed to the grippers, substantially described,

' 1.6. The combination with a reciprocating bed, of a shaft located above the bed, .a cylinder turning on the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear meshing with the rack and having slotand pin. connection with the c'ylinder, means for raising and lowering the shaft, an ink supply roll, a distributing plate on the bed, a ductor constructed to convey ink from the supply roll to the dis- .tributing plate, sheet grippers on the cylinders, means controlled by the sheet grippers for preventing lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no she t is fed thereto, and other means preven ing contact of the ductor with the supply roll when the cylinder is thus held, substantially as described. f

17. The combination with a reciprocating bed, of a shaft located above the bed, a cylinsets? inder turning on the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear meshing with the rack and having slot and pin connection with the cylinder, elastic means for moving the shaft downwardly "to position the cylinder in operative relationship to the bed, an ink supply roll, a distribiiting plate on the bed, a ductor constructed tb' convey ink from the supply roll to the distributing plate, sheet grippers on the cylinder, means controlled by the sheet grippers for preventing lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed thereto, and other means preventing contact of the ductor with the supply roll when the cylinder is thus held, sub stantially as described.

18. The combination with a reciprocating bed, of. a shaft located above the bed, a cylinder turning on the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear meshing with the rack andhaving slot and pin connection wtih' the cylinder, positive means engaging the shaft and normally holding the cylinder in elevated position, elastic means adapted to move the cylinder downwardly during a portion of the reciprocation of the bed, an

ink supply roll, a distributing plate on the bed, a ductor constructed to convey ink from the supplyroll to the distributing plate,

sheet grippers on the cylinder, means con- 7 trolled ,by the sheet grippers for preventing lowering of'the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed thereto, and other means preventing contact ofthe ductor with the supply roll when the cylinder is thus held, substantially as described.

19.'%lhe combination with a reciprocating' bed, of a shaft located above the bed, a cylinder turning on the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear meshing with the rack and having slot and pin connection with the cylinder, eccentrics secured to the shaft, means for turning theeccentrics to raise and lower the cylinder, an ink supply roll, a distributing plate on the bed, a ductor constructed to convey ink from the supply roll to the distributing plate, sheet grlppers on the cylinder, means controlled by the sheet grip pers for preventing lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed thereto, and other means preventing contact of the ductor with the supply roll when the cylinder is thus held, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a'reciprocating bed, of a cylindrical shaft located above the bed, a cylinder turning on said shaft, eccentrics secured to and adjustable on the shaft, bearings supporting the eccentrics, means for turning the eccentrics to raise and lower the shaft, a rack on the bed, a gear wheel mounted to turn on one of the eccentries and meshing with the rack, said gear and cylinder having movable connection compelling them to turn together, but permitting to the cylinder an independent vertical movement, an ink supply roll, a distributing plate on the bed, a ductor constructed to convey ink from the supply roll to the distributing plate, means for preventing lowering of the cylinder to printing'position when no sheet is fed thereto, and other means preventing contact of the ductor with the supply roll when the cylinder is thus held, substantially as described.

21. The combination with a frame, and a reciprocating bed in the frame, of a transverse shaft above the bed, eccentrics secured to the shaft and having bearings n the frame, a

cylinder mounted to turn on the shaft, a

rack on the bed, a gear meshing with the rack and having slot and pin connection with the cylinder, means for positively moving the eccentrics in one direction to elevate the cylinder, elastic means for moving the. eccentrics in the opposite direction to lower the cylinder into operative engagement with the bed, an ink supply roll, a distributing plate on the bed, a ductor constructed to convey ink from the supply roll to the distributing plate, means for automatically preventing lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet is fed thereto, and other means preventing contact of the ductor with the supply roll when the cylinder is thus held, substantially as described.

22. The combination with a frame, and

a reciprocating bed in the frame, of a transverse cylindrical shaft above the bed, eccentrics secured to and adjustable on the shaft and having bearings in the frame, a cylinder mounted to turn on said shaft, means for turning the eccentrics to raise and lower the cylinder, a rack on the bed, a gear wheel mounted to turn on one of the eccentrics and meshing with the rack, said gear and cylinder having slot and key engagement permitting the vertical movement of the cylinder independent of the gear Wheel, an ink supply roll, a distributing plate on the bed, a ductor constructed to convey ink from the supply roll to the distributing plate, means for preventing lowering of the cylinder to printing position when no sheet thereon, a feed table having openings there-- in out of-which the fingers'are-held by a' sheet in position for engagement with the cylinder, a member on one of the eccentrics,-

and a dog carried by said shaft and normally held out of engagement withthe member by the sheet over the openings, substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

' OHN H. STONEMETZ. Witnesses:

. C. E. Po'r'rs, 'MARD] JACKSON. 

